Biomes Flashcards
(26 cards)
Define soil
A mixture of air, broken down rocks and organic materials such as tiny animals and plants.
Define degradation.
The deterioration of soil condition caused mainly by human activities, which results in lower levels of nutrients, fertility, quality and productivity.
Define urban sprawl.
Growth of a city on land situated on the outskirts of a city
Define subsistence farming
Type of farming where the yield of crops is just enough to cover the household needs for the farmer
Define malnutrition
The lack of well balanced diet
Define extensive farming
Farming that requires large amounts of land to support livestock
Define the green revolution
The changes in farming across the world between 1950 and 1979. The changes included, farming of improved varieties of grains, widespread use of fertilisers and pesticides and the adoption of mechanical vehicles and systems.
Define tropical rainforest
A biome with consistently high temperatures and a high amount of rainfall. The main type of vegetation in the biome is trees.
Define grasslands
A biome which has an average amount of rain and a warm climate. The main type of vegetation is grass
Define a biome.
A region on Earth defined by climates, soil and types of vegetation.
Define tundra
A biome that has very little rainfall, very low temperatures and little plant diversity.
Define polar lands
A biome that is very cold and situated at the poles
Define mountain vegetation
A biome with low temperatures and low vegetation, to preserve warmth
Define boreal forest
A biome that is very cold in winter and hot in summer. The vegetation in this biome consists of mainly evergreen trees and coniferous
Define temperate forest
A biome that has a big temperature range. In some forests rainfalls consistently through the year however in others there are distinct dry and wet seasons
Define genetic modification
A process in which scientist change the genes of plants and animals for a desired quality
Define conservation agriculture
Using resource saving methods in farming that compliment natural processes
Define food loss
The amount of food lost in the growing or production processes
Define food waste
The amount of food lost in the consumption process
Define biofuel
A type fuel made by organic matter
Define desertification
A process that leads to once productive becoming infertile, too heavily eroded or too salty caused by climate change, overgrazing or too high salinities.
What factors contribute to food security?
- food availability
- food accessibility
- the ability and resources to use food appropriately
How are food and poverty linked?
The lack of food security means that prices for food in that country are high and less accessible meaning that people are spending more money on food
Is subsistence farming found mainly in developed or developing countries
Developing countries
